Harland Grant Sanders

Harland Grant Sanders, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, died recently in his home in Crescent City, Florida on March 6, 2008. He was born in Mercerville, Ohio on August 18, 1923 to the late Forest and Bertha Shaw Sanders. He grew up on a farm outside Mercerville with sisters, Rose Marie Sanders Hendren of Celina, Ohio and the late Frances Sanders Neal. One brother, Harold, died in infancy. After graduating from Mercerville High School, he married Betty Emogene Caldwell and entered the military service where he fought in the Pacific with an Army Anti-Aircraft group. Upon return from World War II, he found employment at a local hardware store in Gallipolis. He later joined the postal service where he started as a mail carrier and worked his way through the system to become a postmaster of Vinton, Ohio, from where he retired. After his retirement from this position, he and Emogene moved to central Florida where they have resided for the past 30 years. Harland was well known throughout the local community. He was a member of the Blue Lodge #7 of Masonic Order in Gallipolis, the Order of Eastern Star #283 where he was a Past Patron. He was also a member of the French City Campers #240. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Gallipolis, where he participated in the church choir, taught a Sunday School class and served as a deacon. He is survived by his wife, Emogene, of sixty five years and 6 of their 7 children, Harla Jim Eutsler of Gallipolis, Nancy Glenn Phelps of Southern Pines, NC, Richard Nelson Sanders deceased, Robert Thomas Diana Sanders of Gallipolis, Cheryl Norm Gundersen of Fredericksburg, VA, Harland Brent Diana Sanders of Fayetteville, NC and Larry Dean Jill Sanders of Neola, Iowa. Surviving grandchildren are Greg Joy Eutsler of Forest, VA, Jerry Dianne Eutsler of Gallipolis, Tera Michelle Adam Duthie of Pinehurst, NC, Richard Sanders of Akron, Betsy Adam Ford of Kathleen, GA, Rob Melissa Sanders and Joey Sanders, both of Hurricane, WV, Tony Vance of Gallipolis, Adam Vance of Columbus, Janie Greg Lee of Gallipolis, Jennifer Sanders of Fayetteville, NC, Haley Sanders of Neola, Iowa, Blake Woods of Gallipolis, Sandra Eutsler and Charles Garner III, both deceased. Great grandchildren surviving are Erika Eutsler Kris Myers of Pt. Pleasant, WV, Bronson and Brock Eutsler of Gallipolis, Jack Eutsler of Forest, VA, Zach and Travis Duthie of Pinehurst, NC, Peyton, Sarah and Shelby Lowe of Kathleen, GA, Alex Sanders of Hurricane, WV, Tristan Vance and Jaylyn Lee, both of Gallipolis, Justin Lee and Kayla Lee of Pt. Pleasant, WV and great great grandson, Brody Lee of Pt. Pleasant, WV. Services will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Willis Funeral Home with Bob Hood officiating. Friends will be received one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Mercerville immediately following the service. Willis Funeral Home Gallipolis OH US Cemetery: 2008-03-18 Ridgelawn Cemetery Mercerville OH US Visitation: 2008-03-18 10:00:00-11:00:00 Willis Funeral Home Gallipolis OH US Service: 2008-03-18 11:00:00 Willis Funeral Home Gallipolis OH US